Target swaps credit card

CHICAGO » Target Corp. will stop issuing Visa credit cards to its shoppers and will instead offer new cardholders access to the company's proprietary credit card, the retailer known for its cheap-chic designs said yesterday.

The change, which takes effect April 29, won't affect current Target Visa cardholders.

Target said its research shows that shoppers who use the in-house credit cards, which it began issuing in 1995, tended to spend more money than those with the Visa cards.

Target is one of the few retailers to retain its own credit card business, which can be profitable for merchants but also increases their risk of being liable for customers' bad debt.

Hawaiian Air mechanics OK pact

Hawaiian Airlines' mechanics union has approved a new four-year contract that was negotiated last month between the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District 142, and the company.

The new contract will provide increased compensation for 600 of Hawaiian's employees working as aircraft inspectors, mechanics, line service, cleaners and contract service personnel, with the terms also resulting in operational improvements for the company.

Hawaiian has now secured new contracts with all of its unionized labor groups, having previously reached agreements with pilots, flight attendants, clerical workers and dispatchers.

State honors environmental efforts

Seven Hawaii businesses and two government agencies have been presented with awards for altering their practices in ways that conserve resources and protect people and the environment. Lt. Gov. James “;Duke”; Aiona and the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism presented the Hawaii Green Business Awards on Monday. The seven businesses are Belt Collins Hawaii, Bishop Square, Phillip K. White & Associates, TOPA Management, Downtown/Town Restaurants, Gyotaku Restaurant and Whole Foods. The agencies that won were the Environmental Management Division of the state Department of Health and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Despite $256M loss, Delta optimistic

ATLANTA » Delta Air Lines Inc. blamed heavy winter storms and one-time expenses for propelling it to a $256 million loss during the first three months of the year, though it said yesterday it expects a solidly profitable second quarter as the peak summer season ramps up.

That assumes the severe travel disruptions in Europe from Iceland's volcanic ash cloud—which has caused the world's largest carrier to lose $5 million a day, or $20 million so far—don't intensify.

Delta, a major trans-Atlantic carrier thanks to a joint venture with Air France-KLM, had canceled 400 flights through Monday because of the ash cloud hovering over Europe.

ON THE MOVE

RevoluSun has named Charles Wang as a new partner. He was a project developer for Distributed Energy Partners.

Alexander & Baldwin has hired Daniel J. Ligienza as vice president and controller of agribusiness. He was director of corporate finance and systems engineer with Maui Land & Pineapple Co.

Hawaii Kai Retirement Community has hired Denise Bilodeau as assisted-living administrator. She has been an independent long-term care and nursing home consultant for various clients such as Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, nursing home administrator for Avalon Care Center in Honolulu and Hiolani Care Center at Kahala Nui, and social worker at Hale Nani Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

The University of Hawaii Federal Credit Union has elected officers for 2010: Edward Yuen, chairman; Minoru Tamashiro, vice chairman; Myrna Nip, secretary; and Peter Dyer, treasurer. Directors are Kenji Sumida, Farouk Wang and Sylvia Higashi.

Michael F. Nauyokas has been named alternative dispute resolution liaison of the Federal Bar Association. He is also a mediator and arbitrator and the first attorney in Hawaii to hold this distinction.